Rachel-Anne Palacios

Rachel-Anne Palacios has made a name for herself in the Bay Area art world. A self-taught, multicultural artist, her pieces reflect the respect she has for culture, religion, traditional values, elders, and the cycle of life and death. Palacios grew up amongst Oakland's cultural diversity in a household headed by her mother and grandmother. Her grandmother, Nana Rose, was a mentor, teacher, coach, and friend.

"I hope to continue creating a positive focal point for our community by heightening respect for cultural awareness and our elders," said Palacios. "By providing an alternative learning environment, I believe that we can learn about each other's culture and reconnect with our own. While doing this we can re-establish family values, create unity and come together in harmony."

In her search of healing, Palacios researched a variety of cultural beliefs about death after a good friend was killed in 1992. Dia de los Muertos helped her to find that healing path. And in 2004, 2005 and 2007 Palacios was selected to be a participating artist for the Oakland Museum's annual Dia de los Muertos exhibition.

In addition to her artwork, she has been a panelist for the Oakland Cultural Arts Funding Program in 2003 and 2004 and also provided administrative support for the City of Oakland's Cultural Funding Program during their panel process from 2005-2009. Rachel was an active member of the Dia de los Muertos Committee at the Oakland Museum from 2004-2012 and was a Museum Educator at the Oakland Museum of CA from 2004-2016.

She is now sharing her cultural arts education programming with libraries throughout the Bay Area and is the Co-Chair of the Cultural Arts Committee at Cleveland Elementary in Oakland.